Nice, France: For decades, the Paris-Nice stage race has been considered the first major test of the season and a sign of who’s poised to succeed in the months that follow. Whether riders are preparing for the upcoming Classics or the Tour de France, Paris-Nice is a critical step in their early-season preparation.

This year, previous winners Bradley Wiggins and Alberto Contador opted out of the Race to the Sun. Instead, the event provided a glimpse of the future as up-and-coming riders like Australia’s Richie Porte and American Andrew Talansky demonstrated that they will undoubtedly be riders to watch.

Here’s how the top riders raced this past week and what it might mean for the upcoming months.

Richie Porte (Sky/Australia)
At the start of this year’s Paris-Nice, Australian Richie Porte was best known for his weeklong tenure in the pink jersey during the 2010 Tour of Italy. While that was a memorable performance for the Saxo Bank neo-pro, it was largely due to the success of a freak breakaway under horrendous weather conditions early in the race.

But at Paris-Nice, Porte, who now rides for Team Sky, left nothing to chance. He and Andrew Talansky broke the race open on the rain-sodden Stage 3 to Brioude when they bridged up to a small breakaway, and grabbed a seven precious seconds from other favorites like American Tejay van Garderen, Frenchman Sylvan Chavanel, and 2012 runner-up Lieuwe Westra.

Although Talansky won the stage and took the yellow jersey that day, Porte positioned himself perfectly for the remainder of the week. Improving by the day, he attacked Talansky, who was conspicuously isolated on the race’s key climbing stage to the Montagne de Lure, to win Stage 5 and take over the race lead.

Leaving nothing to doubt, he won his second stage on the legendary uphill time trial on the Col d’Eze, finishing the race with a convincing 55-second lead over Talansky. His time on the Col d’Eze was just three seconds slower than the mark posted last year by his Sky teammate Bradley Wiggins, who dominated the 2012 race.

For now, however, Porte will return to his support role for the team’s two stars, Wiggins and Christopher Froome. He will likely be the third man on the Sky train in the 2103 Tour. It is a role he embraces, as it will allow him to hone his Grand Tour apprenticeship. He hopes to have the chance to lead the team on his own in the 2014 Tour of Italy.

Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp/USA)
If you are looking for the next great American hope in the world of stage racing, look no further than Andrew Talansky. After winning the Tour de l’Ain in 2012, not to mention finishing second in the Tour of Romandie and seventh in the Vuelta a España, the 24-year old Florida native quickly confirmed his promise in 2013 when he became the principal animator in this year’s Paris-Nice.

He outpaced all expectations when he grabbed the yellow leader’s jersey after his impressive victory in Stage 3. His Garmin team, short on climbers, left him isolated on the Montagne de Lure. His lack of experience cost him dearly in the final kilometers when he attacked fruitlessly, only to fall victim to Richie Porte’s perfectly placed surge barely a kilometer from the summit.

But while he lost the race that day, he won the hearts of fans, who relished the rare sight of seeing the yellow jersey on the attack. More importantly, he proved that he can be a major player in the world’s greatest stage races.

After holding on to his runner-up spot and winning the white jersey awarded to the best young rider, Talansky clearly demonstrated that Tejay van Garderen (BMC) will not be alone in the quest to keep American hopes alive in the world’s biggest cycling races. Expect to see Talansky get his first crack at the Tour de France this year, when he will shoulder leadership responsibility with Canadian Ryder Hesjedal.

Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma–Quick-Step/France)
The feisty French veteran was constantly on the attack at Paris-Nice, a race in which he has often excelled. This year, he again showed why he is one of the most reliable French riders, with a surprising field sprint victory in Stage 6 into Nice, a move that catapulted him into the green points jersey.

Sylvain Chavanel (left) and BMC's Philippe Gilbert have their eyes on the Classics. (James Startt)

Chavanel is clearly bulkier than in years past, which suggests that he has concentrated on power training in recent months. Such a focus clearly hurt him in the final uphill time trial, where he could finish no better than ninth, forfeiting his place on the podium. But Chavanel has his eyes on other horizons, more specifically Milan-San Remo, as well as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, where he promises to play a key role on the world’s most respected Classics team.

Tejay van Garderen (BMC/USA)
The golden boy of the 2012 Tour, where he won the white jersey as best young rider, van Garderen came into Paris-Nice as one of the top favorites.

Overshadowed by Porte and Talansky, van Garderen nevertheless rode consistently to finish fourth overall, a strong performance that demonstrates that he is perfectly positioned in his preparation for the Tour de France, where he will lead BMC along with 2011 Tour winner Cadel Evans.

Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma–Quick-Step/Belgium)
The uncontested king of Classics is clearly behind the ball in his effort to defend his titles in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, thanks to a winter plagued by sickness and injury. Boonen is one of the few Classics riders who prefer Paris-Nice to the Tirreno-Adriatico—considered more appropriate preparation for Milan-San Remo. And he has often excelled here, winning an early stage.

Unlike last year, Boonen did not come to the Race to the Sun in winning condition. But he could be seen at the front doing work for his Omega Pharma team, and he led out Sylvain Chavanel in his effort to win the green points jersey.

He will not be ready to contend Milan-San Remo on March 17, but hopes instead to use the 300-kilometer race to shift his preparation into high gear for the great April Classics.

Tom Boonen's season is getting off to a slow start due to a winter plagued by injuries and illness. (James Startt)

Philippe Gilbert (BMC/Belgium)
The reigning world champion is undoubtedly off to a better start than he was a year ago. Constantly working at the front, he nearly won Saturday’s stage to Nice, only to get pipped at the line by Sylvain Chavanel. Count on him for the Classics.

Ivan Basso (Cannondale/Italy), Denis Menchov (Katusha/Russia), and Andreas Kloden (RadioShack-Leopard/Germany)These veterans did little to counter their reputation as aging, fading riders. Only Kloden managed to finish in the top ten (ninth). But the winner of the 2000 Paris-Nice was never a factor in the race, content instead to spend the week sitting on wheels, well back in the pack.

While his role as a support rider is still valued, his days as a team leader in the world’s great stage races are clearly over—much like those of Basso and Menchov.